A real gem

I realized a little while ago that the Nintendo Gamecube was released 25 years ago, today. It seemed like I should do something to commemorate that. Which brings us to today’s word.

spinel, noun – a purplish, octahedral gemstone

Learned from: Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Nintendo Wii)

Developed by Capcom

Published by Capcom (2005)

First off, yes I know you can play the remake of RE4 on newer platforms, but this is a post celebrating the Gamecube. And I’ve been told the remake is a fine game as well, but even the original version (which started out as a Gamecube exclusive) was an incredible game. Easily in my top 25 of all time; maybe top 10. At a time when the franchise had gotten stale, Capcom went in a completely different direction, and essentially reinvented what Resident Evil could be.

Gone are the shambling, mindless zombies of the first three games. Gone is Raccoon City. Hell, for most of the game, the Umbrella Corporation is AWOL as well. Instead, we’ve got a cult somewhere in Spain that’s kidnapped the president’s daughter, enemies who coordinate their attacks, a new parasite that I really wish Capcom would use again sometime, and a rescue mission that’s the absolute perfect blend of campy, scary, action-packed, and stealthy. There’s even a bit of Indiana Jones-esque reappropriation of priceless cultural artifacts that’s your main way of upgrading your gear.

Okay, they’re not all priceless. The random beer steins and gemstones (including the occasional spinel crystal) don’t exactly belong in a museum, but the necklaces, and chalices, and gold bars that Leon Kennedy pawns off with abandon to the trenchcoat-wearing shady merchant probably constitute some kind of international crime. But then, this is a game where you’re roundhouse-kicking rural villagers coming at you with pitchforks, and shotgunning your way through ancient castles while a tiny man in a tricorn hat taunts you over your radio. (You eventually shotgun him, too.)

Resident Evil 4 is…a lot, but damn near all of it is good. And just writing about it is making me want to play it again–or finally try out the remake. Either way, it’s been far too long since I last fought my way through Spain to save the president’s daughter from a parasite-god.

Surely, this is worth a couple of bullets, at least?

Rwise fwom your gwave!

I really need to stop drifting away from this blog every so often. But, since this is the season associated with things coming back from the dead, I thought this was as good a time as any to get back to it. Happy Halloween, everyone!

necrolatry, noun – the worship of the dead

Learned from: Xenosaga: Episode 1 (Playstation 2, mobile, Nintendo DS, Wii)

Developed by Monolith Soft

Published by Namco Bandai (2002)

This is a strange name for a strange skill. I think only one type of enemy in the entire game uses it against you, and then only in tandem with another specific type of enemy. Necrolatry reverses how healing and damage work, on whichever character it targets, so healing skills hurt them, and attacks heal them. At first, this may seem rather pointless, until you realize the cleric-type enemies have no problem targeting your party with their healing skills, but it’s pretty hard for you to do damage to your own people, or try to cast healing on the enemy. It’s a neat trick–most certainly not a treat–and one I don’t think I’ve seen used in another RPG since.

Even KOS-MOS agrees that the fact that this series hasn’t gotten a remaster is the cruelest trick of all.

Is it too late for New Year’s resolutions?

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, though man, this past year was a doozy. I must have spent 3/4 of it either working longer hours to train people in, or working longer hours because we flat-out just didn’t have enough people. This shortage seems like it might finally be behind us (for the moment, at least), so I wanted to finally get back to some creative projects. In all honesty, I probably could’ve picked this back up a few weeks ago, but well, bodies at rest and all that. Which brings us to today’s word.

skiving, verb – progressive tense of “skive,” to slack off or avoid one’s duty

Learned from: Xenoblade Chronicles (Nintendo Switch, New 3DS, Wii)

Developed by Monolith Soft

Published by Nintendo (2010)

The fact that I haven’t finished Xenoblade Chronicles yet makes this word even more fitting. It’s not that it’s a bad game, or anything–far from it. With its mix of sci-fi and fantasy, engaging combat, and unique setting (pretty much all land masses are on the backs of two dead titans), it’s actually a very enjoyable title…even if the antagonists were more menacing before they started talking in thick, Cockney accents. That just feels weird, coming out of a hulking, murderous machine. But I digress. Some other game came out that distracted me while I was playing it (maybe Shin Megami Tensei V), and I just haven’t gotten back to it yet. I’d like to, though.

Anyway, in one of the earlier parts of the game, the main character is getting berated for not pulling his weight. Admittedly, in a world under the constant threat of invasion by nigh-unstoppable, mechanical behemoths, skiving is a bit more egregious than neglecting a little Internet blog, but I can still identify somewhat. And while I won’t be saving the world from a looming danger, I’m still going to pick up the slack and get back to doing things that matter to me. Expect more updates soon!

When your only tool is a sword, all your problems become things that need stabbing. Like this looming embodiment of procrastination.

We really are living in the end times

One of my favorite games of all time is Dokapon Kingdom: sort of like Mario Party crossed with an RPG. Billed as “the friendship destroying game,” it was released in 2008, and in the 12 years since, I’ve yet to introduce someone to it who hasn’t had a great time. And given that it’s been so long, I never thought we’d see a sequel…I was wrong, and I can only imagine that’s another sign that the world’s ending.

Last week, Dokapon UP! was announced for the PS4 and Switch, with a release date of December 10th in Japan (no Western release date yet, but I’ll import this game if I have to). For some reason, it’s a crossover title with Utawarerumono, a series I have virtually no knowledge of, but I’ll get acquainted, because I love Dokapon that much. So to celebrate, I wanted to go with one of the words that game has taught me.

kiviak, noun – a traditional food of the Inuits in Greenland, made from auks fermented in sealskin

Learned from: Dokapon Kingdom (Playstation 2, Wii)

Developed by Sting

Published by Sting, Atlus (2008)

Dokapon Kingdom is a game about earning as much wealth as you an, while screwing everyone else over. So, Monopoly, but actually fun. And like Monopoly, wealth isn’t just measured by raw money; property plays a big role, but so do things like side quests, and favors to the king. One of those types of favors is sending him food that you think he’d like–and the king hates kiviak. As luck would have it though, you can send gifts in the name of another player, meaning you can offload all the unpalatable tripe you want, and tank someone else’s value in the king’s eyes. The game is full of mechanics like that, but it’s all part of the fun. It’s no exaggeration when I saw Dokapon UP! is one of my most anticipated games, because this series deserves to continue.

Dokapon-UP_08-05-20

I have no idea who these characters from Utawarerumono are, but I’ll be spending the next few months learning.